CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A suspect accused of shooting and killing a woman in north Charlotte and leading police on a chase into South Carolina is facing multiple charges, police said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were called to a reported shooting at a home on Long Grass Court, near the intersection of Auten Road and Oakdale Road. When CMPD got to the home a few minutes before 2 p.m., they found a woman who had been shot multiple times.
The victim, identified as 47-year-old Paula Henson, was rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
CMPD identified Earnest Ali Santiago as a possible suspect in the case, and officers located his vehicle nearby. When officers attempted to stop Santiago, he kept going and a police pursuit began. With the assistance of CMPD's helicopter and K-9 units, police pursued the suspect into South Carolina, where York County deputies took the lead.
The pursuit ended around 2:15 p.m. on I-77 around Firetower Road and Feamster Lane. Santiago ran away but was taken into custody about 15 minutes later. CMPD detectives obtained a warrant against Santiago for first-degree murder. He is currently awaiting extradition to Mecklenburg County.
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